Hull's 104-year wait for top-flight football comes to an end as Roy Hodgson's Fulham visit a sell-out KC Stadium tomorrow.

Yet while anticipation in the city has been at fever pitch since last May's play-off final victory over Bristol City, Brown quickly had to put the celebrations aside.

Reaching the top division fulfilled a career ambition but Brown, having worked under Sam Allardyce at Bolton, is well aware of how difficult it is to survive.

Brown has been one of the Premier League's most active managers this summer, making eight new signings in attempt to prove the majority of pundits tipping them for relegation wrong.

There could be yet further new arrivals before the August 31 transfer deadline and Brown admits he may have to be tough on the heroes of his promotion campaign.

Reflecting on his side's start last season, he said: "We quickly identified players that we didn't think were going to take us to the next level and moved them on, even after one game.

"That might happen on Saturday. We might quickly realise there are players out there that might not be able to play Premier League football.

"However, it won't be for the want of trying. The ambition of every footballer at this club is to play Premier League football."

Brown has been pleased with his summer recruitment, which continued yesterday with the arrival of Wigan striker Marlon King on a season-long loan.

Anthony Gardner's loan move from Tottenham was also made permanent in a club record £2.5million deal.

The pair are now both in contention to make their debuts tomorrow along with Peter Halmosi, George Boateng, Bernard Mendy, Geovanni and Tony Warner.

"It is going to be a long, tough season but looking at the squad and team I am playing tomorrow, there will be quite a strong bench," Brown said.

"To say I'm happy with that would be an understatement.

"I'm quite pleased with the way I've pieced things together in quite a short space of time."

The Tigers have avoided the league's big guns with opening games against Fulham, Blackburn and Wigan but Brown is still anticipating a baptism of fire.

He continued: "It is important we get a good start. We have got three games before the first international break and they are three tough matches.

"There is always an added spice to any game, regardless of which. We've got one tomorrow with Roy Hodgson.

"Roy's been through the mill and seen it and done it. I'm envious of that and want to be that man.

"He survived by the skin of his teeth last year and has now invested an absolute fortune.

"He's coming to the KC and he'll be the wily old fox, the shrewd tactician. I'm expecting a really tough game."

Last season represented a giant stride in Brown's managerial career.

The 49-year-old was out of work two years ago after being sacked by Derby and only returned to the game as an assistant under Phil Parkinson at Hull.

Yet he was soon thrust into the hotseat again following Parkinson's sacking and, after steering the club clear of relegation in his first year, then embarked on last season's glorious campaign.

He intends to savour every moment of Premier League life but he has no intention of letting it go easily.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "The realisation of wonderful dreams and all those words you come out with, they're all there.

"I just wish my mother and father where there to see it. It's something that I've always strived for as an individual and I've got there now.

"But I don't just want to be there once, I want to be there for a long time. I want this excitement to be the norm.

"I've got other ambitions apart from the one I'm fulfilling tomorrow but to fulfil those ambitions I need to be a Premier League manager for a number of years.

"I guarantee I'll have sleepless nights and wake up in cold sweats, but that's all part of it. If you ask me am I looking forward to it, the answer is yes."

Brown is well aware that most football experts have predicted Hull to finish 20th but he insists his squad are determined to surprise them.

He added: "A lot of them are good friends of mine - but they have been asked by newspapers to become pundits and give an opinion.

"Even my old mate Sam has put us down as 18th! But that was at least two places better than a lot of people.

"As far as we are concerned we are out to prove them all wrong and the way to do that is continually progress and try to win games on a weekly basis."